Combined time and percussion fuse



Patented Jan. 3, I899.

No. 6l7,265.

J. A. WALSH. COMBINED TIME AND PERCUSSION FUSE.

(Amilication filed Nov. 26, 1897.)

m x x m x. 8.} m w m N. h ww 5 T a a 2 H mm 8 Q a v Q a w w WW m w B e M f m, W m w M @AL 8! m fl wwuNhN Wm Patented Ian. 3, I899. J. A. WALSH.

COMBINED TIME AND PERCUSSION FUSE.

(Application filed Nov. 26, 1897.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

m I. liam I- w M I n we? N UNKN [22 z/eni'oz" Jae 07 J. Wallsk 79 7121: 2320?: e s

llnrrnn STATES I ATENT Prion.

J OSEPl'l A. lVALSlI, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

COMBINED TIME AND PERCUSSION FUSE.

sPncrrrcArroN forming part of Letters Patent No. 617,265, dated January 3, 1899. Application fi1 1 November 26, 1897. Serial No. 659,746. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH A. WALSH, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in a Combined Time and Percussion Fuse for Projectiles, of which the following is a specification.

One object of my invention is to provide an explosive projectile with a time-fuse of such character that the flight of the projectile through the air will operate the same, a further object being to so construct the fuse that it will operate by percussion as well. These objects I attain in the manner hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view of a combined time and percussion fuse for projectiles constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line a a, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line b b, Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is a transverse section on the line cl d, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the firing-pin structure of the fuse. Fig. 6 is a transverse section on the line f f, Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is an enlarged view of part of the firing-pin structure, illustrating one of the details of its construction. Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively a longitudinal section and a transverse section of part of a fuse embodying a modification of my invention, and Figs. 10 and 11 are views illustrating other modifications.

The fuse has a circular casing or barrel 1,

with threaded neck 2 adapted to be screwed into an opening in the front end of the hollow projectile, said barrel 1 having a hollow projecting head 3, to which is secured a hollow conical cap a, open at the forward end and also having side openings 5, through which air can easily escape from the chamber 'within said cap.

to said shafts 7. Each of the shafts 7 has a worm 13, which meshes with a worm-wheel 14 secured to a threaded spindle 15, which extends longitudinally through the barrel 1 and has a bearing in the lower end of said barrel, the inner ends of these threaded spindles 15 engaging with nuts 16, secured to or forming part of a plate or disk 17, which serves as a carrier for a casing 18, containing the small charge, which, by its explosion, ignites the main explosive charge of the projectile, this device being hereinafter for convenience simply alluded to as the 'exploder.

The exploder has wings 19 partially embracing the screw-spindles 15 and having such frictional hold thereon that While the exploder will normally be held in position at the inner end of the barrel and in contact with the carrier 17 said exploder can move forwardly in the barrel when the flight of the projectile is suddenly arrested, the frictional hold of the wings 19 upon the screw-spindles 15 being overcome by the momentum of the exploder, so that the latter will be forcibly projected toward the forward end of the barrel 1. Any desired form of breakable or releasable connection between the exploder 18 and the carrier 17 may be used for this purpose.

The inner end of the barrel 1 has an opening through which the gases generated by the explosion of the charge in the exploder 18 can find their way into the main chamber of the shell in order to ignite the explosive charge therein, this opening being normally closed by a mass 20 of some composition which will seal the inner end of the barrel and prevent the access of moisture to the main charge of the shell.

The spindle 10 is provided with a rotating device contained within the hollow cap 4 of the fuse, this rotating device consisting in the present instance of a sleeve 21, suitably secured to the sleeve 9 and having inclined vanes 22 upon it, so that when the projectile is fired air entering the opening of the cap will act upon said inclined vanes so as to cause rotation of thespindle 10, this rotation being imparted to the screw-spindles 15, so as to move the exploder and its carrier forwardly in the barrel of the fuse until the percussion-primer carried by said explodcr is brought into contact with the inner end of the firing-pin 23 and is thereby exploded.

The sleeve 21 has a conical collar 24, which runs upon a ball-bearing in a plug 25, inserted into the hollow head of the barrel 1 beyond the casing 6, this block having a recess for the reception of a collar 26 upon the wormsleeve 9, so that the spindle 10 is retained in its proper longitudinal position within the fuse.

Supposing that the spindle 10 rotates at a determinate speed from the instant the projectile leaves the gun, it follows that the exploder 18 will be moved forward in the barrel 1 at a like determinate speed and the time which will elapse between the firing of the projectile and the explosion of the same will be determined by the distance which the exploder has to travel before it is subjected to the action of the firing-pin 23. Hence by adjusting said pin so as to cause it to project more or less into the barrel 1 the explosion of the projectile can be effected at any desired time after firing, and the rate of speed of the projectile being known the distance at which such explosion will take place can be readily determined.

In order to provide simple, convenient, and accurate means for effecting the adjustment of the firing-pin 23, I employ the construction best shown in Figs. 5 and 6, on reference to which it will be observed that the said firingpin 23 is of polygonal external form and is adapted to an opening of corresponding form in the spindle 10, so thatit is prevented from turning independently thereof. A threaded central opening extends throughout almost the entire length of the firing-pin 23,and to this opening is adapted ascrew-stem 27, which has a head 29, adapted to be confined to the outer end of the spindle 10, said head having in the present instance a projecting pin 30, which can be passed through a right-angled slot 31 at the outer end of the spindle and can be retained in the transverse portion of said slot by means of a beveled latch-bolt 32, acted uponby a spring 33, contained in an opening formed in the end of the spindle 10, which opening is closed at the outer end by a screwplug 34. One side of the screw-stem 27 is recessed, and this recessed face of said screwstem is graduated so as to form a scale 35, whereby the proper adjustment of the firingpin 23 can be accurately determined.

\Vhen the projectile is in storage or is being transported, the firing-pin is removed from the same, so that there is no risk of accidental discharge of the fuse; but when the projectile is about to be used the proper adjustment of the firingpin is effected and said pin is passed through the hollow spin dle 10 and the head of the screw-stem 27 is locked to the outer end of said spindle, an operation which can be readily effected, as

the latch-bolt 32 will readily yield asthe pin- 30 is moved through the transverse portion of the slot 31, the bolt springing behind the pin as soon as the latter reaches the end of said transverse portion of the slot, so as to prevent its accidental release. The range having been determined and the speed of flight of the projectile being known, the explosion of the projectile at the desired range is efiected by the proper adjustment of the firing-pin 23 before the latter has been passed through the hollow spindle 10, accuracy of adjustment being aided by the graduated scale formed upon the screw-stem 27. The firing-pin can, however, be readily removed from the fuse if it is desired to change the timing of the latter after the pin has been inserted or if the projectile is not to be immediately used, for by means of a suitable implement acting on a lug 32, Fig. '7, which plays in a slot 10, Fig. 1, the latch-bolt 32 can be raised and the pin 30 then backed oif in the slot 31, so as to permit the firing-pin to be lifted out of the fuse, to which it can be readily reapplied after the change has been effected or when it is desired to use the fuse.

The eflicient action of the firing-pin upon the priming device of the exploder 18 is insured, because of the rotation of said firing-pin with the spindle 10, such rotation be- 5 ing caused by the polygonal external form of the firing-pin.

Various modifications of my improved fuse which will be within the scope of the main features of my invention will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and one of such modifications 1 have illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9, on reference to which it will be observed that the spindle 10 has a worm-wheel 36, which meshes with worms 37 upon shafts 38, which are adapted to hearings on opposite sides of the cap of the projectile and which carry vaned wheels 39, which, as the projectile moves through the air, are caused to rotate, partly by reason of the action of the air due to such movement and partly by reason of the action of the air due to the rotative movement of the projectile, such rotative movement being in the direction of the arrows shown in Fig. 9. The inner end of the spindle 10 is of square or polygonal form and engages with an opening of like form in the hub of a spur-wheel 40, which is contained in a chamber in the forward end of the barrel 1 and which meshes with spur-pinions 41, secured to the forward ends of the screw-spindles 15, the fuse as to its remaining features being the same as that previously described. To lock the operative mechanism of the fuse when the latter is in storage, a set-screw may be inserted at any available point, so as to engage with one of the vanes 22 or any other available part which will prevent rotation of the spindle 10, and the openings in the cap 4imay be closed by a suitable cap, cover, or plug, so as to prevent access of dirt or moisture to the forward portion of the fuse.

Another modification is one in which the exploder 1S occupies a fixed position at the inner end of the barrel 1, and the firing-pin is provided with a carrier which engages the screw-spindles 15, as shown in Fig. 10, so that said firing-pin will be moved toward the eX- ploder as the projectile moves forward in its flight.

The screw-spindles 15 may also be dispensed with, if desired, and the exploder 18 may, as shown in Fig. 11, be connected to flexible cords or chains wound upon drums on the shafts 7, so as to be drawn forward in the barrel 1 as said shafts are rotated, forward movement of the exploder independently of such draft mechanism being permitted when the flight of the projectile is suddenly arrested and any suitable frictional retaining device being employed to prevent such forward movement under other circumstances.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent* 1. A timefuse for projectiles in which are combined an eXploder, a firing-pin therefor, a device adapted to be rotated by the pressure of air upon it as the projectile moves forward in its flight, and means operated by said rotating device and extending throughout the length of travel of the firing-pin or exploder, whereby continuous and progressive movement of one of the said parts toward the other is effected until the explosion occurs.

2. A combined time and percussion fuse for projectiles in which are combined an exploder, a firing-pin, a rotating device adapted to be actuated by the pressure of air upon it as the projectile moves forward in its flight, means operated by said rotating device and extending throughout the length of travel of the firing-pin or eXploder, whereby said rotating movement is caused to effect movement of one of said parts toward the other and cause explosion independently of percussion, and a retainer for said exploder which will release its hold when the forward movement of the projectile is suddenly arrested so as to cause explosion independently of the move ment due to the rotating device.

3. A time-fuse for projectiles in which are combined an exploder, a firing-pin, a rotating device adapted to be actuated by the pressure of air upon it as the projectile moves forward in its flight, provision whereby such rotating movement is caused to effect the approach of the firing-pin or eXploder one toward the other, and means for effecting initial adjustment in the length of the firingpin so as to regulate the distance between the same and the exploder.

4. A combined time and percussion fuse for projectiles in which are combined an ex ploder, a firing-pin, a pair of screw-spindles, a carrier engaging with said screw-spindles and upon which the exploder is separably mounted, a rotating device adapted to be actuated by the pressure of air upon it as the projectile travels forward in its flight, and provision whereby said rotating device is caused to actuate the screw-spindles.

5. An adjustable firing-pin for projectiles consisting of a screw-stem having a recess with graduated scale thereupon and a pin having a threaded opening for the reception of said screw-stem whereby its adjustment upon the latter can be regulated by means of the scale.

6. The combination of the firing-pin and its adjustable screw-stem, with a spindle in which said firing-pin can slide without being able to turn,and provision for locking the head of the screw-stem to said spindle.

7. The combination of the spindle having a right-angled slot therein with the firingpin having a screw-stem with projecting pin adapted to enter said slot, and a spring-bolt for closing the transverse portion of the slot after the pin has been moved to the end of the same.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH A. VVALSI'I.

lVitnesses:

Jos. I-I. KLEIN, F. E. BECHTOLD. 

